Combined BS/MS in Dietetics (Option I)

(Available to incoming freshman, fall 2018)

Mission

The mission of the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics is to support the missions of the University, college and department by providing a quality advanced academic curriculum with a concentration in nutrition education that prepares students to be scientifically competent, accountable and ethically responsible citizens who are prepared to be productive, self-educating leaders within the dietetics profession and the global community.

Program of Study

The Combined BS/MS in Dietetics offers students the unique opportunity to complete the required didactic instruction (lecture and laboratory courses) and supervised practice experience hours necessary to meet the Core Knowledge and Competencies for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist as mandated by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetic (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in five years. Curriculum is based on educational standards mandated by ACEND. Graduates receive verification and establish eligibility to write the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Admission to TCU is required for all programs; however, admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics. Eligibility for admission to the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics is based on successful completion of at least 60 semester hours with a minimum 3.0 GPA in required Nutrition (NTDT) classes and an Associated Requirements GPA of 2.75, 45 semester hours of required prerequisites and major courses, 200 hours of documented food or nutrition practical experience, and an application packet. Application packets for the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics must be received by Feb. 1 (typically of the sophomore year), and applicants are notified of provisional acceptance by April 15. Students who are accepted begin the program the following academic year in August. Final acceptance/enrollment in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics depends on successful completion of work in progress and ongoing academic prerequisites. Conditional admission to the MS is granted to applicants who have completed all admission formalities, have a sufficient and superior undergraduate record but who have not completed undergraduate requirements.

Conditional admission will be changed to unconditional admission when the necessary prerequisites and/or admission formalities are fulfilled. Students must abide by all program policies and procedures in order to continue in the MS in Dietetics program.

A student's continuation in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics is contingent upon attainment of a strong academic record and successful completion of the program sequence. In order to earn the BS in Dietetics degree, the student must attain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in required NTDT courses, attain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the Associated Requirements, earn a grade of "C-" or better in all NTDT courses, a grade of "C-" or better in all Associated Requirements and complete a minimum of 128 hours . A student must earn at least a 300 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) by December of the last year in the BS portion of the combined BS/MS Dietetic to continue in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics Program and be admitted into the College of Science and Engineering Graduate School by the spring of the final BS semester. If a student does not meet all of these requirements, the student may change his/her major to Nutrition or another major in order to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree, but cannot continue in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics. Students who do not meet all of the requirements to continue in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics have the option to pursue verification from the TCU Didactic Program in Dietetics in order to be eligible to pursue a Dietetic Internship upon graduation and/or graduate with a BS in either Nutrition or Dietetics.

Students can graduate with a BS in Dietetics and begin the graduate program, but they will not earn verification to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians if they are unable to complete the graduate degree requirements and do not earn the MS in Dietetics degree. In order to earn the MS degree, the student must attain a minimum graduate NTDT GPA of 3.0 and earn a grade of “C-“ or better in all NTDT graduate courses. In addition, all final 50000- and 60000-level course grades will be included in the computation of the graduate GPA, but no more than two grades of “C+” or lower may be used in satisfying the degree requirements.

Students complete 12 hours of dual undergraduate/graduate credit toward the MS in Dietetics during the fourth year of undergraduate study. At the end of the fourth year, assuming that all other undergraduate graduation requirements are met, the student earns his/her BS degree in Dietetics. During the fifth year, the student completes the remaining 20-22 graduate credit hours (10-12 hours of coursework, 10 hours of supervised practice) toward the MS in Dietetics degree. Students intending to pursue the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics must earn a BS in Dietetics from TCU. In addition, all 30000-, 40000-, 50000- and 60000-level NTDT courses must be taken from TCU.

Information about costs for tuition and University fees are available through the TCU Office of Admission or Financial Services. More detailed costs for students are outlined in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics Student Handbook and include approximately $1,000-$1,500 per year for travel to supervised practice sites, vaccinations, lab fees, photocopying, school and office supplies, textbooks, lab coats, malpractice insurance and professional dues.
The TCU Combined BS/MS in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Ill. 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040, ext. 5400, www.eatright.org/ACEND.

Texas Christian University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, doctoral degrees.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Texas Christian University.
Kara Duval, photo by Susan Vogel